Spectra!

It's been a while since I found a project that was so much fun to knit that I didn't want to stop even to go to bed at night.  I was at my favorite LYS a couple of weeks ago looking for nothing in particular (something that gets me into all sorts of monetary trouble lol) when there on a mannequin was this scarf/shawlette thing.  It looked GREAT!  I asked for the pattern and then hunted down the yarn for it.

The pattern, "Spectra", by Stephen West (found here--also see the other great pic's of the pattern there!) called for all fingering weight yarns and size 5 needles.  However, the model at the LYS was made from DK and worsted weight yarns and size 7 needles.  I picked out a Noro Silk Garden color and a funky new superwash wool/cashmere blend DK--the dark green--and wished with everything in me that I had my size 7 needles with me!

It's one of those patterns that you just don't get sick of working on before it's done.  Watching each color melt into the next is so cool!  Anyway, so I finished it last night.  In addition to being fun to knit, there are all sorts of different ways to wear it--as a capelet, as a cowl, as a scarf, etc.  I LOVE IT!!  Ya, I have a feeling there will be several on the Christmas list getting one of these this year...

Happy knitting!

Misc.

I miss posting on here.  I have gotten so caught up in Ravelry and Facebook that I have neglected my blog and really it is so much more personal.  Not to mention it is infinitely easier to upload pic's to my blog than it is to put them on Ravelry.  Don't get me wrong, I love Ravelry!  It is a fantastic place for inspiration!! But I have a terrible time getting pic's on there.

Anyway, so here I am back to my blog. 

No job prospects in my life still.  I would like to think I could make a living of my craft's.  However, I think that the fact that my patterns don't fly out of my two stores, nor does my yarn--which is some of the finest out there, that I should continue to search for a job among the "others".

I was very surprised this past Holiday season that I had NO yarn sales.  That's a first for my stores.  I take that as a sign that I should not kid myself into thinking that somehow, magically, I will make a living from them.  It's sad really because I love yarn, fiber, knitting, crochet, etc so much.  I just don't know how to make a living at it.  If I had the money I could open a yarn store here, but what are the chances it would make enough to pay me a decent wage?  Very slim probably.

If any of you have any suggestions or ideas I'm all ears.

Yes, It Can Be Done

I did it!  I knit both of these sweaters in less than two months.  They turned out so nice!  

How Late Is "Too Late"?

So the day before yesterday I came across some lovely aran sweater patterns and decided that I should make a couple for Christmas gifts.....I am aware that it is the end of October and that Christmas is less than two months away.

(Great looking sweaters huh?)

Not too mention, but you all know what a flakey knitter I am.  Even as I had the thought of making these sweaters I cast on for a gorgeous pair of socks with US size 0 needles--lol.  And then decided I had an AWESOME idea for this scarf...all silk :)  I knit it straight through til it was done and it's gorgeous!

Do you suppose I can focus on just these two sweaters?  I am hoping that by making two at the same time, when I get bored with the one that I will turn to the other and not turn to starting another project.  I figure the two sweaters are different enough that they will keep my interest also.  And it's not like I'm knitting sweaters with fingering weight yarn.  The one sweater is with heavy worsted/bulky-ish yarn and the other is with worsted.  So they so work up pretty fast?  Maybe?

Here's hoping :)

And Now My Gobi Desert Yarn Creation

You saw the yarn....and here are the socks.  Or at least the first pair.  They knit up really quick and they were a lot of fun to make.  Real simple and very warm.  I actually have enough yarn to mix and match around to make another pair of socks and perhaps a nice warm hat also.  It's great!

Thought I would include my pattern for these "House Booties" as a free pattern.  So if you would like to make a pair also, here you go:

Gobi Desert House Booties

Size: Woman’s Average to Large

Gauge: 22 sts = 4 inches

Needles: One set of five size 3.25 mm/US size 3 dpns

Yarn Description: Handspun Camel Hair yarn from Mongolia--www.snowleopard.org. 3 skeins, 1 in natural, 1 in tan, 1 in black. (this is enough yarn to make at least two pair)

 

Cuff:

CO 48 sts. Divide sts evenly onto 4 needles, join careful not to twist work. Work 1 x 1 ribbing for 4 rounds.

Leg:

Work graph through round 10. Work 7 rounds even in stst. End ready to work short-row heel.

Short-Row Heel:

Using tan yarn begin working short-row heel.

Row 1:  (WS) Sl1, p22, w&t last st.

Row 2:  (RS) Sl wrapped st, k22, w&t last st.

Row 3:  Sl wrapped st, p21, w&t next st.

Row 4:  Sl wrapped st, k20, w&t next st.

Row 5:  Sl wrapped st, p19, w&t next st.

Row 6:  Sl wrapped st, k18, w&t next st.

 

Repeat in this manner, working one less stitch per row, until 4 sts in the middle and 10 wrapped sts on each side.

 

Row 1:  Sl1, k3, k st & wrap together, turn

Row 2:  Sl1, p4, p st & wrap together, turn.

Row 3:  Sl1, k5, k st & wrap together, turn.

Row 4:  Sl1, p6, p st & wrap together, turn.

 

Continue in this manner, working one more st and wrap per row, until all wrapped sts have been worked.  End on a RS row.  Cut tan yarn and resume using natural color.

 

Foot:

Working in stst, k even until foot measures 2" (about 5 cm) less than total desired foot length. Change to tan yarn and work toe decreases.

Toe: 

K one round even.

Rnd 1: K to last 3 sts of needle 1. K2tog, k1. Needle 2--k1, ssk, k remaining sts. Needle 3--k to last three sts, k2tog, k1. Needle 4--k1, ssk, k remaining sts.

Rnd 2: K all sts even.

Repeat rounds 1 and 2 until 16 sts remain. Graft remaining sts together.

Finishing:  Weave in ends.  Work second sock.

Abreviations:

CO: Cast on

1 x 1 Ribbing: knit one stitch, purl one stitch. Repeated for all sts around.

Stst: Stocking stitch--knit all sts around.

Sl: slip stitch as if to purl

K2tog: knit the next 2 sts together.

Ssk: Slip next st, slip second st, then knit the two slipped sts together.

W&t: wrap and turn. With yarn in front, slip next st as if to purl, wrap yarn around slipped st to the back of work, slip wrapped st back to left hand needle, turn work around to begin next row.

Copyright – Tama Vaughn, October 2011

Please do not distribute this pattern or sell any items

made from it without my prior permission.

www.twistedharefiberarts.etsy.com

Enjoy!

Look What I Found!

The day the new Interweave Knits "Knitting Traditions" Fall 2011 came available, Interweave sent me a notice.  They are well aware that I will spend my last penny to purchase these magazines.  I spent two hours just "thumbing" through the digital edition--ya I couldn't wait for it to come in the mail, takes too long.  On page 78 were these rustic, nothing fancy, but certainly functional looking socks called "Gobi Desert Socks".  They looked all fluffy and warm--and you know how I feel about all things "fluffy".  Made from handspun camel wool spun by nomadic herding women and their families of Mongolia.  I found myself rushing off to find the Snow Leopard Trust that sells this luscious stuff and uses the proceeds to benefit snow leopard conservation and supports these people.

And look what they did!! They sent my order right out! Seriously, from magazine view to my mailbox took only 4 days and that included the weekend!!  The yarn is now safely nestled all snuggly in my lap where I can pet it often.  Don't know if I'll ever find something worthy to knit out of it lol.  It's amazing, lovely, and all for a good cause. 

I recommend it if you like rustic, handspun, soft yarn.

Ya, I feel spoiled right now :o)

Tribute to Barb

I hope she doesn't mind....my cyber friend Barb is awesome!  She and I have been taking care of a couple of knitting blogs the past few years and I feel like I have got to know her a little bit.  Even though I have never seen her face I really like her.

Barb lives somewhere on the east coast.  She was affected by the hurricane that hit there just a while back.  Just as the power got turned on and she was headed back to work she got really sick.  I was concerned and had emailed her that I hoped she would  be well soon.  Her response was that she was starting to feel better then she said, "I can still knit though and that is all that counts."  I teared up.  Ya, I know, silly.  But really sometimes you need something to get you through all the hard times. 

Everybody has their "security blankets" their "means of escape".  Some turn to substance abuse, some get depressed and hide, some become work-a-holics, some just give up.  But Knitter's....we knit.  We get out the yarn, sometimes we get a pattern, and we grab our needles and we "escape" by turning to something familiar, something comforting, something soft :) and pleasant.  For me I almost always am knitting for someone else.  I get caught up in thoughts and memories of them.  Times shared together and hopefully future times together.  I think about them wearing what I am making and how it will look.  I loose myself completely.  Soon I've forgotten all the sadness, the problems,  the difficulties, etc.  I make positive thoughts my focus, twisting and looping and combining my thoughts of happiness and good times with every stitch.  It is such a healing process.

So Barb, here's to you :)  I agree.  With all that I have been through in the past couple years, I am "starting to feel better" also.  Thank goodness "I can still knit though"  and to me "that is all that counts". 

Happy Knitting